Bottle labeling machine



Filed May 2, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 1,

mald

4:124 ATTORNEY I INVENTOR BOTTLE LABELING MACHINE Filed May 2, 1934 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 I L 10 5%! 5a U 20 107 5 c 37 5 J INVENTOR May 18, 1937. E. ERMOLD 1 BOTTLE LABELING MACHINE INVENTOR Edward] Ina/(Z BY k,

M ATTORNEY May 18, 1937. E. ERMOLD BOTTLE LABELING MACHINE Filed May 2, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 HHHH R O T N E V m 17d ward Zrwmld 'lf AiiL y 1937- E. ERMOLD 2,080,413

BOTTLE LABELING MACHINE Fild May 2, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 2 INVENTOR M ATTOR EY May 18, 1937. ERMOLD 2,080,413

BOTTLE LABELING MACHINE Filed May 2, 1934' 7 Sheets-Sheet s lNVENTOl AMA ATTO May 18, 1931- E ERMOLD I 2,080,413

BOTTLE LABELING MACHINE Filed May 2, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 WM ,HIII I. IN

WIN.

ll IIIIIIIII Ill INVENTOR @122 Zia/((7 jfrwwlfi Q MATTQR EY Patented May 13,1937

EJNETED STAT BOTTLE LABELING MACHINE Edward Ermold, New York, N. Y.; Watson A.

Guthrie executor of said Edward Ermold, de-

ceased [ippiication May 2, 1934, Serial No. 723,432

9 Claims.

My present invention relates toa machine for labeling bottles, the invention being more particularly related to a machine by means of which automatically to attach cap and neck sealing labels to bottles.

An object of my invention is the provision of a machine of the character described embodying certain desired features of simplicity and convenionce, which will function automatically to 10 paste a label for application to the bottle, to

carry such adhesive label to the bottle and position it across the top end thereof, to bend wing portions of the label upon opposite sides of the neck and upon the shoulders of the bottle, and

finally to .ly press the label upon the neck and its wings upon the neck sides and as well the shoulders of the bottle, and further to do this in such manner that the affixed label will conform faithfully to the shape of the bottle end, no and shoulders.

By means my improved machine, the sealing labels can be mechanically applied to cdnform truly to the configuration of the bottle caps and their beads, grooves and plain surfaces, so that thereby any attempt to open the bottles or remove the contents thereof, will be made visibly manifest. The field of usefulness of my improved machine embraces the afiixing to bottles and the like, of labels of all kinds, including the affixing of government stamp tax or revenue labels to bottles containing alcoholic liquor.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a machine whereby automatically to .affix labels to bottles of difierent sizes and which may have caps or other closures, necks and shoulders of different sizes, designs, and configurations.

More particularly considered, the machine of the present invention for the performance of the functions and the accomplishment of the results herein contemplated, involves correlated and cooperating mechanisms and parts as follows: paste transfer roll controlling mechanism; paste applying roll controlling mechanism; label carrier plates on tolling mechanism; label wing bending yoke controlling mechanism; upper presser arm controlling mechanism; or wing presser arms controlling mechanism; and other combined parts and mechanisms having to do, in the manner hereinafter set forth, with automatic operation, control and precision, and devised to facilitate and expedite accurate affixing of cap and neck labels by operators possessing only ordinary skill in such matters.

To each label, adhesive is applied in three places; at a spot or area midway its length where it is to be affixed to the crown or end of the cap, and at spots or areas on either side of such midway place, upon the portions of the labels subsequently bent into wings which are affixed to the opposite sides of the cap, bottle neck and shoulders. Thereby I provide a continuous label seal which is adhesively applied to the cap, its opposite sides, and to the opposite sides of the bottle below the cap. It is to be understood that while I shall herein employ the term cap to describe the closure for the bottle and have illustrated a cap in some of the figures of the drawings, the machine of my invention is not limited to a cap type of closure, but may be used with equal facility to affix labels on corks, stoppers and other types of bottle closures. Moreover, the machine of my invention is not limited to applying labels to bottles having end closures, as certain features of the invention are applicable to affixing adhe sive labels to the surfaces of bottles and other containers which are free of caps or the like.

The machine of my invention is adapted to be operated continuously, to affix adhesive labels to bottles in succession, each bottle receiving its label in the same way and at the same place. A suitable work-table is provided, having means for retaining the bottle during the label-applying operation, and provision is made for readily exchanging the table for other sized tables in order to accommodate different sizes of botles.

The subject matter of the present invention is also described in and certain novel features of the invention herein described, but not herein claimed, are claimed in my companion application filed March 15, 1935, Serial No. 11,223, which is a division of the present application.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved labeling machine and in the construction, combination and relative arrangement of parts, their interrelation, and coaction, as will be hereafter more fully de scribed and claimed.

A machine embodying my invention in one form is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and-in which:-

Figure l is a plan and partial sectional view of a machine embodying my invention, with some parts thereof removed and some omitted to more clearly disclose certain of the parts which would otherwise be obscured;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section through the machine from front to rear, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken on the line i4 of Fig. 1, and showing the cam for controlling the paste-applying mechanism having a roll applicator;

Fig. 5 is a similar View, taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1, showing the mechanism for bending the labels upon the bottle neck and the control cam for such mechanism;

Fig. 6 is another view of the label-bending mechanism, disclosing the parts as they appear when the label-bending yoke is substantially in its lowered position;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View, taken on the line IT! of Fig. 1, and showing the control cam for the label-carrying mechanism having spaced positioning plates;

Fig. 8 is a similar view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1, showing the control cam for the paste transfer mechanism having an applicator roll;

Fig. 9 is a similar view, taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 1, showing the control cam for the upper arm presser mechanism;

Fig. 10 is a detailed fragmentary top plan of the paste applicator roll and its label guard spring;

Fig. 11 is a side view of the parts shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a detailed View in plan of one of the self-setting appliances for pressing a bent label wing portion against the bottle neck;

Fig. 13 is a side view of the parts shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a plan view of a label strip;

Fig. 15 is a detailed fragmental view, partially in section, showing a pair of self-setting appliances for pressing the opposite label wing portions against the bottle neck and shoulders;

Fig. 16 is a top plan view, illustrating a bottle having a label applied by the present machine;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary side elevational view, showing a bottle with a label applied by the machine; and

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary side elevational view of another type of labeled bottle, the label of which may be applied by the machine.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, it will be seen that the illustrated framing for the support of the working parts is of the skeleton type and comprises in general upright side sections or standards I!) and 23 in opposing relation, and these at the front end of the upright machine, adjacent the bottom thereof, are connected by a cross plate 2i and at a higher elevation by an inner cross member 22; while at the rear end of the machine the cross connection between the upright side sections consists of a stationary cross shaft 2-3 upon which are journally mounted a series of vertical rocker members which will presently be referred to in detail. This cross shaft is located adjacent the bottom of the machine. Intermediate the length of the machine and below the plane of the shaft 23, a driven shaft 24 extends transversely of the machine and is mounted on the side sections or standards by means of suitable journal bearings. Power for the rotation of the shaft E l is transmitted thereto by any suitable means (not shown) from any suitable source of power (not shown). This driven shaft 24 is a cam shaft and carries a series of cam elements whereby to impart the desired movements to the several correlated operating mechanisms and working parts of the machine.

At the front end of the machine, means are provided for the support of the bottles or workpieces to which the labels are to be applied; and in the present embodiment the means for this purpose is represented as comprising a bracketmount 25 which is bolted for its upright support to the cross plate it. Mounted on the vertical portion 25 of this bracket mount and for Vertical sliding adjustment on the vertical face thereof is a table-plate bracket-mount 26, the mode of attachment for vertical adjustment consisting in providing the vertical portion of this mount with a vertically extending slot 2?, together with securing means in the form of a headed bolt 28 which is passed inwardly through the slot and screw-threaded into the bracket mount By loosening the screw bolt, the mount 2% may be adjusted vertically to the extent permitted by the slot 2?, and by tightening the screw bolt this mount may be rigidly secured at the elevation desired. The horizontal portion 29 of the tableplate bracket-n1ount 25 is provided with an elongated slot 39 which extends in the direction of the length of the machine and provides for the adjustment in a similar direction of the bottle supporting table-plate 3! which is formed with a depending boss 32 of less length than said slot For securing the table-plate 31 in the adjusted position desired, a wing screw 33 extends upwardly through the slot 3&3 and is screwthreaded in the boss 32. This table-plate is furnished with upstanding bottle retaining members 34, 3d the rear portions 3 5', 3 of which are directed inwardly towards one another to serve as back stops for positioning the bottle.

The several cam members fixedly secured to the driven shaft 24, together with the general functions thereof, are follows: cam 35a which imparts motion to two jointed motion transmitti'ng lines or pressure applyin arm structures each of which carries a presser head member 35a; cam Ell) which imparts motion to a trans mission line or construction carrying a paste or adhesive applicator roll 38b; cam Sale which imparts motion to an operating line or system which carries a label wing bending tool or yoke iilc; cam Md which imparts motion to a line or constructional system carrying label carrier plates 52d; cam ite which imparts motion to an operating line or system carrying a paste or adhesive transfer roll Mae; and cam 435i which imparts motion to an operating line or system carrying an upper presser head member 46].

Referring now to the cam 35a and the mechanism controlled thereby for operating the two presser head members 36a, it will be seen from Fig. 3 that the working face of this cam is pro vided with an eccentric cam groove 47a in which is engaged a roller 428a carried by vertical rocker Gila the rear end of which is journally mounted on stationary shaft 23. The front end of rocker arm 39a is pivotally connected through a link with a slide 5m mounted for vertical reciprocating action in spaced horizontal members 52a projecting rearwardly from a bracket 53a secured to the cross member 22. At its top end the vertical slide 5m carries a horizontal pin 54a with which are fixedly engaged two depending cranks 55a, 55a. Two horizontal sleeves 56a, 56a, rockabiy mounted on pins 57a, 51a, have lateral crank members 58a, 58a, pivotally united with the lower ends of the cranks 55a, 55a. These pins are suitably fixed to the frame parts so that the sleeves will rock thereon, to and fro, upon the alternating reciprocating action of the vertical slide. Each sleeve 56a at its forward end has a crank arm Eta adjustably engaged within a sleeve head 66a mounted intermediate its length on a fulcrum pin Bla fixed to a suitable frame part. Each sleeve crank 59a is connected with its sleeve head'filla by a pin and slot connection 62a and 63a. These two articulated lines or systems may, for convenience of reference, be referred to as jointed side arms; and as illustrated in Fig. 2, the sleeve heads extend upwardly in opposite directions and rock on pivots in such positions that as the slide m reciprocates verti cally, the upper or head ends thereof will rock inwardly and outwardly towards and away from the neck of a bottle 64 properly located upon the table-plate 3|.

By referring to Figs. 12 and 13 in connection with Fig. 2, it will be seen that inthe top portion 65a of each sleeve head member 60a there is loosely mounted for independent reciprocating action a slide bar 66a the inner end 61a. of which has pivoted thereto at 68a the presser head member 36a. Soft, adaptable pad-body mediums 69a are secured within and project inwardly from recesses 'lta provided for the purpose in the presser head members 36a, and it will be observed that the recesses a. as well as the pad-body mediums have the lower portions thereof made with a downward and outward curving. These pad-body mediums preferably consist of rubber sponge, although they may consist in practice of any suitable soft material adapted, when forcibly pressed against an object, to assume substantially at the surface contact the shape or contour of that object. In the present exemplification, the rubber sponge pad-bodies 69a have their contact faces shaped substantially to suit the shape of the closure caps, necks and shoulders of the bottles on which labels are to be pasted. For the accommodation of the closure caps 'lll (Fig. the rubber sponges may have at the tops of their contact faces suitable cut-out portions Ha (Fig. 13). The slide bar 66a of each sleeve head member is normally urged inwardly to the extent permitted by a stop pin 72a by means of two pull springs 13a, 13a. connected at one end to a cross pin 14a. attached to the slide bar itself and connected at the other end to pins 15a. projecting laterally from the opposite sides of the sleeve head member. It will be noted in this connection that the slide bars with their pull springs are so arranged that the former are normally urged inwardly and upwardly in opposed relation as shown in Fig. 2 and at opposite sides of the bottle, so that when under the operation of the control cam 35a. the vertical slide is moved upwardly, the two articulated arm structures will be swung in an inward direction towards each other and to an extent that the rubber sponge pad-bodies will contact and press from opposite directions against the opposite sides of the cap, neck and shoulders of a bottle suitably disposed on the table 3|. In Fig. 15, I show the two articulated arms moved inwardly from opposite directions with their rubber sponge pad-bodies pressing an applied label strip 18 tightly against the opposite sides of the bottle cap, neck and shoulders, the rubber sponge elements under the pressural force assuming the configuration of the various parts so that the label strip will be caused to assume the shape or o configuration of the threads, or beads and of the outline of the shoulders against which it is tightly pressed.

The cam 31?), which controls the mechanism for operating the paste-applying roll 3%, has on its working face (Fig. 4) an' irregular cam groove 'l'lb wherein is engaged a roller 18b carried by a vertical rocker arm 1% the rear end of which is journally mounted on stationary shaft 23. Said rocker arm 1% is made with an upwardly extending branch 8% with the top end of which above the skeleton frame of the machine is engaged the angular end 8Ib of a lever arm 82!) fulcrumed for rocking movement on a transverse shaft 83b suitably fixed in frame parts as 8411. The yoked forward end 851) of this lever arm carries the paste-applying roll or applicator 33b; and between the yoked end 8% and the fulcrum shaft 8312, this lever arm is provided with an extensible coupling portion 861) by means of which limitedly to lengthen or shorten the extent of this arm beyond the point of the fulcrum shaft. The purpose of the applicator roll 38b is to apply paste to the central portion of the label strip 16 which is held by a label carrier 81 of any conventional or approved type capable of supplying successive labels which are to be pasted and transferred for application to successive bottles. The applicator roll 38b receives its supply of paste from the paste transfer roll 44c through the contact of the latter with the former, as will presently appear; and after receiving its supply of paste the lever arm 82b, through motion which it receives from the cam 31b and connected transmission parts, moves upwardly to contact with and apply adhesive to the central portion of the label strip 16. In order that, when the applicator roll retracts from the label 16 after applying adhesive thereto, the label will not also be withdrawn from the label-holder, there is provided, as best shown in Figs. 10 and 11, a yoke-shaped guard spring 881) the shank of which is secured upon the top edge of the lever arm 82b and longitudinally thereof by screws 8%. This guard spring is made with opposite arms 9%, made in upwardly bowed form so as to come beyond the periphery of the applicator roll. This guard spring, when the applicator roll is moved to contact the label in the label holder, engages the label holder parts and thereby yields sufficiently to permit contact of the applicator roll with the label, and then as the applicator roll retracts from the label, the tensioned spring arms 9% react against the label sufliciently to prevent any withdrawing of the label by the applicator roll.

The earn 390, which controls the operation of the label wing bending yoke 400, has in its work ing face an irregular cam groove Qlc wherein is engaged a roller 92c carried by a horizontal rocker arm 936 which is rotatably mounted on the stationary shaft 23. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, said rocker arm 93o curves upwardly adjacent its forward end and is pivotally united at 940 to the top end of a link member 950 the lower end of which is connected by pin and slot connection 95c and 910, with vertical slide bar 980 which operates in a suitable guide-way provided for the purpose in the vertically disposed portion of the bracket mount 25. Said slide bar 980, due to its pivoting at 950 on the link 950, not only has vertical movement but also limited movement forwardly and backwardly with respect to the upright guide arm 99c. Pinned to the top the slide bar 980 is a cross head I900 wherein is mounted for horizontal reciprocating movement the stem of the wing-bending yoke 40c. Rearwardly of the head I080 the stem of the yoke 490 is provided with a lateral pin IIIIc which is engaged in a slot I020 the upper portion of which extends downwardly and forwardly, while its communicating lower portion extends vertically. With this construction of parts, each time the cam 39c rotates, the yoke 400 will be given a movement, first in a downwardly inclined plane in a forward direction and then in a vertical downward direction, the last-named movement bringing the members of the yoke on opposite sides of the bottle neck so as to apply the wing portions of the label strip on the opposite sides of the bottle neck, as shown in Fig. 6. A spring I 630 serves as means for positively re-positioning all of the parts of this mechanism after each downward operation.

The cam Md by means of which motion is imparted to mechanism for operating the label carrier plates Md, is of irregular form as shown in Fig. 7 and turning on its periphery is a roller I046! carried by a horizontal rocker arm I05d the forward end of which is pivoted on a pin I 06d carried bylug iB'I l projecting from the cross plate 2I. At its rear end, said rocker arm IBM is pivoted at IBM to an upwardly extending rod "39d. Fulcrumed on a transverse shaft IIIid (Fig. 3) is a rocker frame composed of two substantially parallel bars I I Id connected by a cross piece II2d. At their forward ends these bars curve upwardly as at II 3d, the extreme upper ends thereof being connected to a cross head I I @d from which there projects forwardly the two label carrier plates 42d. At its rear end, the frame Hid is pivotally united at II5d with the top end of the connecting rod "3801. A pull spring 556d (Fig. 7) resiliently maintains the rocker arm Illfid in such position that the roller IMd constantly engages the periphery of the cam lId. These parts are so arranged that when during the rotation of the cam did, the frame IIId is at its lower terminal of movement, the two label carrier plates 42d which lie in a common plane, will have their top surfaces lying substantially in the horizontal plane of the bottle closure cap Til; and so that when said frame I I id is at its upper terminal of movement, the said carrier plates 42d will contact the label strip "IS on either side of its central region wherewith the applicator roll 381) contacts. In other words, the carrier plates 'ld are reciprocated in a path which leads from the label-holder in the label carrier to adjacent the closure cap on the top end of the bottle neck; the said carrier plates at the label carrier contacting with and picking up a label, and at the closure cap for the bottle laying the pickednp label across the crown or top surface of the closure cap. In this connection it is to be observed that the two carrier plates 420! are spaced apart a distance suflicient to come adjacent the opposite sides of the bottle cap and so as to per mit the opposing arms of the yoke We to pass between them downwardly along the opposite sides of the closure cap and bottle neck. The said carrier plates 42d also serve as adhesive applicators. They receive their supply of adhesive on their top surfaces from contacting with the adhesive transfer roll M0. The gapbetween the two carrier plates 5201 is of greater extent than the longitudinal length of the applicator roll 382), so that when said plates 42d contact with the label strip they will apply adhesive thereto on those portions thereof which are to be bent down by the yoke 40c onto the opposite sides of the bottle neck and shoulders.

For the operation of the paste transfer roll Me, the cam 43c controls a line or system of mechanism which includes rocker arm I I 'Ie journally mounted at its rear end on the stationary shaft 23. This rocker arm carries a roller IIBe which turns on the periphery of control cam We (see Fig. 8). Thefront end of rocker arm I He is pivotally united at its forward end at I I9e with an upwardly extending rod I2Ile which has incorporated therein (Fig. 3) an adjustable part I2I e the purpose of which is to provide means for increasing or shortening the length of the rod I2lle. A tensioning spring I2Ie' (Fig. 8) urges the rod I2ile and the arm H16 in the direction necessary to keep the roller II8e in contact with the periphery of the cam 43c. At its upper end, said rod I206 ispivotally united at I222 with a crank arm I23e projecting from a hanger arm IZde the upper end of which is journally mounted on a shaft I25e supported by suitable framing (not shown) of the machine framework. Opposite the hanger arm I24e and also journally mounted on the shaft I25e is a complemental hanger arm I24e. These two hanger arms I 24c and I24e carry at their lower ends a rotatable shaft I26e (Figs. 2 and 3). Secured upon the shaft I26e and rotated therewith is the pasteapplying roll 440 which, as shown in Fig. 2, is divided into three sections of which I21 is the central section devised to supply adhesive to the applicator roll 381), while the adjacent outer sections I28e, I 286 are devised to apply paste to the label-carrying plates 42d, 42d. Under the operation of the cam 43c, the paste transfer roll Me has alternating reciprocating movement in a path between a paste supply roll I29 and a point indicated by the broken outline I39 which is well beyond the location of the label carrier, as shown in Fig. 3. The paste-supply roll I29 turns through paste contained in a vessel I3I suitably mounted upon the machine framework and the shaft I32 of this paste-supply roll may be suitably mounted in the side walls of the vessel I3I. It will be appreciated that the movement of-the paste-transfer roll Me is on an arc of which the shaft I256 is thecenter, and as shown in Fig. 2 the shafts I26e and I32 are provided, respectively, with gears I33 and I 34 which come into engagement when the roll He comes into paste-acquiring contact with the supply roll I29 and by reason of such meshing engagement the supply roll I29 is given a partial rotation. A scraper device I35 is attached to the shaft 83b and adjusted thereon so that its free end will remove excess adhesive from the periphery of the supply roll I29 in advance of the point of contact made therewith by the transfer roll Me. The function of the paste-transfer roll Me is to obtain paste from the supply roll I29 and transmit the same to the applicator roll 38b and the plates 42d, these parts being operated in such relation that the central portion IZlc will contact with the applicator roll 38?) at the time the two outer sections I28e, I28e make contact with the two plates 32d.

The operation of the upper presser head member as; is controlled through mechanisms under the control of the cam 45f (Fig. 9). The working face of the cam 45f is provided with an irregular cam slot I363 in which is engaged a roller I37 carried by vertical rocker arm I38 journally mounted at its rear end on the stationary shaft 23. This rocker arm is suitably tensioned by a spring [39 A vertical rod 548 (Fig. 2) is connected with the front end of the rocker arm I331 through suitable knuckle joints Mi M21 and a yoke-shaped link 13f. Said vertical rod MW is connected at its upper end with lever arm l l lf through knuckle joint Mei. The lever arm M4 is formed as an integral part of the upwardly extending lever M61 and is rockingly journaled on a fixed stud pin i 'll projecting from a plate M81 adjustably mounted on the machine framework. At its upper end the arm t lt carries a head we; in which is mounted a slide bar I50 which carries at its inner end the presser head member it A soft, adaptable pad-body medium, i56 preferably consisting of sponge rubber, is attached to the free end of the presser head member iiif and has a contacting face of a size suitable to make pressure upon the top or crown of the bottle cap ill (Fig. 15). The presser head member 46 with its rubber sponge pad-body is normally spring-urged inwardly by a pull spring [52 to the limit of movement permitted by a stop pin I533 carried by the slide bar I501. This presser head member is, therefore, of the self-setting variety, its pressural movement against the crown of the cap being effected against the urge of the spring I521 which naturally yields to permit strong pressural contact movement of the presser head member 46 toward the lever arm head M r. Being swingably journaled on the stud pivot 541 the lever arm I467 with its presser head member is adapted to be given movement in an arc from the elevated position shown in Fig. 2 to the lowered position shown in Fig. 15 where the rubber sponge pad-body is illustrated as exerting pressural force upon the central label portion which crosses the crown of the cap it.

We have seen that the cam 35a controls the in and out operation of the opposing side arms which carry the presser head members 36a and that these members, when at their inner terminals of movement, make pressure upon the opposite sides or bent-down wings of the adhesive label, pressing and smoothing such wings tightly against the opposite sides of the bottle cap, neck and shoulders, and due to the provision of the rubber sponge pad-bodies, that these label wings during the pressing operation will be caused to faithfully assume and reproduce the configuration of the threads, beads and other surfaces which they overlie. The operation of the applicator roll 38b is controlled by the mechanism under the control of cam 311), this applicator roll having for its function to take adhesive from the transfer roll Me and apply it to the central portion of a label held by the label carrier 81 and being equipped with a spring guard whereby, when the applicator roll moves from the label contacted thereby, it will not carry the label with it. We have also seen that the yoke 40c, operated from the cam 3ilc, comprises members adapted to pass on opposite sides of the bottle cap and neck and also to pass through the gap between the plates 42d, and that the function of this element is to remove a carried label from the plates 42d and bend the wings of such label downwardly along the sides of the bottle cap, neck and shoulders. The spaced label carrier plates 4201 are operated from the cam Md and reciprocated in a path to carry a label from the label carrier to the bottle and in position for the yoke element to perform the wingbending operation. The paste transfer roll 44a,

operated from the cam 43c, moves in a curving path to carry paste from the supply roll to the applicator roll and the two label-carrying plates. Also, we have seen, that the upper presser head member 463, operated from the cam 45], serves as means to smooth and press the central portion of the label upon the surface of the top or crown of the bottle cap.

The various cams and the individual lines or systems of transmission controlled thereby, operate in continuous correlated timed relation so that successive labels will be pasted, carried to, applied and pressed upon successive bottles. A cycle of operation may be explained as follows: Let us assume that the paste-transfer roll Me is on its way from its outer terminal shown at I30 to the supply roll I29 and assuming further that the carrier plates 4212 with a label attached thereto are nearing the top end of the bottle. As soon as the carrier plates 62d reach their lower terminal where the carried label is positioned horizontally on the cap crown, the label wing-bending yoke 40c and the upper presser head member 46;, having also been moving in their respective downward courses, become effective; the yoke to bend the label wing portions alongside the opposite sides of the bottle neck, such wing portions already being withdrawn from the carrier plates and as they are withdrawn being moved down through the gap between said plates, and the upper presser head member being then effective to contact and yieldably exert pressure upon the central portion of the label overlying the crown of the bottle cap.

In the meantime the transfer roll Me completes its journey to the supply roll I29 and ac quires therefrom its supply of adhesive, so that by the time the carrier plates 4201 move along their upward path, the transfer roll will be on its retroactive course during which it will meet and contact the said carrier plates and the applicator roll 38b to furnish them with adhesive. As the carrier plates 4211 move up, the yoke 4110 continues its downward course to its lower terminal of movement to complete the application of the label wings to the bottle neck and shoulders. The yoke completes its application work and draws away from the bottle neck to permit the application of the cooperating side arm presser head members 36a just prior to the time the transfer roll 44c contacts with the carrier plates 42d and applicator roll 3811.

After the transfer roll Me contacts with the carrier plates42d and applicator roll 38b, it continues on to the position indicated at I30 and thus out of the path of the carrier plates, during which time the applicator roll 3% moves into contact with the label, which operation is followed by contact with the label by the carrier plates. Next the applicator roll draws away from the label, clearing the way for the carrier plates to bring down the label for the next bottle. During this operation the upper presser head member 46 and the cooperating side presser head members 36a are withdrawn from the bottle to permit its'removal and the placing of the next bottle on the table-plate in time for the carrier plates to bring the label which has been picked up, into proper horizontal position for application to such next bottle.

By the machine of my invention, I am enabled to paste and apply labels to bottles at a rapid rate, producing a tight pasted label that faithfully conforms to the surface configurations of the bottle. The machine being automatic, un-

skilled labor, with little or even no previous experience in labeling bottles, can be quickly taught to operate the machine and to paste the labels on the bottles in a uniform and attractive way.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the application of labels to the caps and necks of bottles, for it may be used to paste labels on various portions of the bottles and as well on small articles other than bottles. Moreover, the terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and I have no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but recognize that various modifications are possible Within the scope of the invention claimed.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A bottle labeling machine comprising a series of turning cams, a corresponding series of vertically operated rocker arms, individual to the cams and receiving their motion therefrom, a motion-transmission means connected with each rocker arm and receiving its motion therefrom, a carrier device operated by one means and adapted to carry and position a label for application to a bottle and including spaced plates for contacting wing portions of the label at either side of the central portion thereof, a yoke operated by the second transmission means and adapted to be received between the spaced plates to detach therefrom a carried label and apply the same to the bottle surface, an applicator roll operated by the third transmission means and adapted to apply paste to the central portion of the label between the wing portions wherewith said plates contact, a paste transfer roll operated by the fourth transmission means and adapted to supply paste to said plates and to said applicator roll prior to the contact of said parts with the label, and presser means operated by the remaining transmission means, adapted to press against the bottle surface the label that is applied thereto by the yoke, all of said means continuously and automatically operating in correlated timed relation to effect the pasting of the label, the carrying and positioning of the pasted label to the bottle, the application of the label to the bottle surface and finally the pressing of it upon the bottle surface.

2. In a bottle labeling machine which includes a pivoted arm having at one end thereof space separated plates for carrying and placing the label on the bottle top, a vertically movable memher, a stationary head, a yoke adapted to pass through the space between the plates and about the bottle to apply the label to the sides of the bottle, a stem carrying the yoke and mounted in the head for horizontal movement, means for reciprocating the pivoted arm, means for reciprocating the vertically movable member, and guide means for the yoke controlling the horizontal movement thereof prior to the passage of the yoke through the space between the plates.

3. In a bottle labeling machine which includes a pivoted arm having at one end thereof space separated plates for carrying and placing the label on the bottle top, a vertically movable member, a stationary head, a device adapted to pass through the space between the plates and at either side of the bottle to apply the label at either side of the bottle, a stem carrying the device and mounted in the head for horizontal movement, means for oscillating the pivoted arm, means for reciprocating the vertically movable member, said parts having working arrangement so that as the label is placed on the bottle top the device will become effective to pass through the space and apply the label to the bottle sides, with a member for causing horizontal movement of the device from and to position to pass through the space between the plates.

4. A bottle labeling machine having a movable member, a stationary head, a yoke-shaped labelbending device arranged on the head for independent movement, a guide having a slot with a portion disposed at an angle to the direction of movement of said member, and a connection on said device engaging said slot to cause inde pendent movement of said device when upon the movement of said member said connection moves in said angular portion of the slot.

5. In a bottle labeling machine, label carrying mechanism comprising a pair of spaced plates adapted to carry and place a label on the bottle top, label bending mechanism comprising a yoke element adapted to pass through the space between the plates to bend the placed label downwardly along the bottle, means for retaining the placed label against displacement, and means controlling the operation of the yoke element to first position it over and in alignment with the space between said plates and then to pass it bodily downwardly through said space to a point below said plates.

6. In a bottle labeling machine of the type in which a carrier is provided to place a sealing label with its middle part in contact with the bottle top and in which a presser engages the contacting label and holds it in place on the bottle top, the improvement characterized by means operable through a single motion to engage portions of the label at either side of its pressed engagement with the bottle and bend said portions downward along the opposite sides of the bottle, said means having as a part of its single motion an initial substantially oblique motion with respect to the vertical plane of the bottle into a position from which it moves downwardly to bend the label portions downwardly along the sides of the bottle.

7. In a bottle labeling machine of the type in which a carrier is provided to place a sealing label with a point intermediate its length in contact with the bottle top and in which a presser engages the contacting portion of the label and holds it in place on the bottle top, the improvement characterized by means operable through a single motion to engage portions of the label at either side of its pressed engagement with the bottle and bend said portions downwardly along the opposite sides of the bottle, said means having as a part of its single motion an initial sub stantially oblique motion with respect to the vertical plane of the bottle into a position from which it moves downwardly to bend the label portions downwardly along the sides of the bottle, with means for pressing the last mentioned label portions against the bottle sides from the position into which said label portions are bent by said single motion means.

8. In a bottle labeling machine, an operatively mounted label applying device comprising combined label carrying plates with a gap in which the bottle top is receivable to permit the carried label to be applied to the bottle top, an operatively mounted label bending device comprising a yoke receivable through said gap about the bottle top to draw the carried label from the plates and dispose portions. of the label along opposite sides of the bottle, means for positively operating said label applying device, and means for positively operating said label bending device.

9. A bottle labeling machine having, in combination two separate arms mounted for reciprocation from different positions to and from the bottle top as a central point, a member mounted for vertical reciprocation substantially parallel with the bottle and extending above the bottle top, spaced separated plates attached to one arm for carrying and placing a label on the bottle top, a presser attached to the other arm for pressing the placed label upon the bottle top, a head attached to the upper end of said member, a bending device mounted on the head for reciprocation and adapted to be passed through the space between the plates to apply the pressed label to opposite sides of the bottle, and means for causing reciprocation of the bending device positively concurrently with an amount of the reciprocation of said member and in such relation to the full reciprocation thereof that the bending device will be moved to and from a position for passing through the space between the plates during each full reciprocation of said member which supports said head and bending device.

EDWARD ERMOLD. 

